• Positive data from extended Phase I pharmacokinetics study complete clinical development program
  • Phase I and phase III clinical trial program demonstrated comparable safety and efficacy of FYB202 and the reference drug Stelara®*
  • Submission for regulatory approval in Europe and the U.S. planned for the third quarter of 2023

MUNICH, Germany I April 25, 2023 I Formycon AG (ISIN: DE000A1EWVY8/ WKN: A1EWVY) today announced the successful conclusion of the extended Phase I clinical study comparing the pharmacokinetics of FYB202 and the reference drug Stelara®.

As early as August 2022, the primary endpoint was achieved in the randomized, double-blind, multicenter Phase III study (VESPUCCI), demonstrating the comparable efficacy of FYB202 and the reference drug in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis). The positive results of the Phase I pharmacokinetics study successfully conclude the clinical development program. FYB202 was bioequivalent to the reference drug Stelara® sourced in the EU as well as in the U.S. for all primary endpoint parameters.

European and U.S. regulatory submissions are still planned for the third quarter of 2023. Provided successful approval by the respective health agencies, Fresenius Kabi will commercialize FYB202 in key global markets.

The active ingredient ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that targets the cytokines interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. Since 2009, the originator medicine has been used to treat various severe inflammatory conditions such as moderate-to-severe psoriasis as well as psoriatic arthritis. Its approved indications were expanded to chronic inflammatory bowel diseases like treatment of Crohn’s disease (2016) and ulcerative colitis (2019). Stelara® achieved a global sales volume of USD 9.7 billion in 2022.[1]

Formycon CEO Dr. Stefan Glombitza comments: “The successful conclusion of the development phase of our ustekinumab biosimilar candidate marks a very important milestone for Formycon and highlights the significant progress in our biosimilar pipeline. We are confident that we will provide the authorities with a convincing data package this fall. With FYB202, we can contribute significantly to the treatment options in the growing market segment of inflammatory diseases.”

[1]Johnson & Johnson top pharmaceutical products by sales 2022 | Statista.

About Formycon:
Formycon is a leading, independent developer of high-quality biopharmaceutical medicines, especially biosimilars. The company focuses on treatments in ophthalmology, immunology and on other key chronic diseases, covering the entire value chain from technical development to the clinical phase III as well as the preparation of dossiers for marketing approval. With its biosimilars, Formycon is making a major contribution towards providing as many patients as possible with access to vital and affordable medicines. Formycon currently has six biosimilars in development. Based on its extensive experience in the development of biopharmaceutical drugs, the company is also working on the development of a COVID-19 drug FYB207.

About Biosimilars:
Since their introduction in the 1980s, biopharmaceuticals have revolutionized the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and eye diseases. In the coming years, many of these biotech drugs will lose their patent protection – and by 2025, medications with revenues of approximately USD 100 billion will be off patent. Biosimilars are follow-on versions of biopharmaceuticals, for which exclusivity has expired. They are approved via stringent regulatory pathways in highly regulated markets (such as EU, US, Japan, Canada, Australia) based on proven similarity of the biosimilar with the originator biopharmaceutical reference product. Currently, global sales of biosimilars are estimated at more than $15 billion. By 2030, analysts estimate that this figure could rise to over $60 billion.

SOURCE: Formycon